CLEARFIELD – A Morrisdale woman accused of taking more than $19,600 from the West Branch Band Booster Club waived her right to a preliminary hearing during Centralized Court on Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
Kori Sue Plotner, 38, of Morrisdale has been charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. Her bail has been set at $10,000 unsecured.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the charges against Plotner stem from alleged incidents that occurred while she was treasurer of the West Branch Band Booster Club. Plotner allegedly stole cash from the club’s fundraisers.
Between September of 2014 and October of 2015, Plotner allegedly failed to deposit all of the funds she collected from fundraisers into the club’s bank account. She allegedly stole approximately $19,609.12 in cash during that time.
Additionally, Plotner allegedly completed and submitted false treasurer reports to the officers of the West Branch Band Booster Club during its regular, monthly meetings in order to cover up her thefts of cash.
On Oct. 20, 2015, state police at Clearfield met with three individuals involved with the club. They turned over financial records, including verification from fundraiser activities, treasurer reports and bank statements.
They also related that Plotner had reported to them Oct. 13, 2015 that the club’s bank account had a balance of approximately $13,391.59. Then, she changed the amount to $14,343.41 and again to $16,893, they said.
They said Plotner related to them that she had forgotten to add some recent deposits. A club officer said she became suspicious of Plotner and checked the bank account on Oct. 14, 2015; she learned it only had a balance of $3,266.86.
Those involved with the club indicated to state police that typically by this time of the year, the account should have close to $20,000 in it. They also indicated that they usually raise about $35,000 in a two-year period, and it’s how they fund a trip to Disney World for band members.
State police found the monthly treasurer reports prepared by Plotner conflicted with those that she submitted to the bank for monthly audits.
State police also reviewed a summary of fundraiser activity amounts, actual amounts deposited into the bank and the remaining cash amounts that were missing monthly from September of 2014 through October of 2015.
On Oct. 26, 2015, state police interviewed Plotner. She allegedly admitted to taking the cash from the West Branch Band Booster Club. She told state police she wasn’t sure how much she had stolen, but she had kept some of the money from fundraisers and began to in football season in 2014.